Pearl
A unisex given name from English.
Every Pearl since 1880 — 163,010 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Pearl
Pearl is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #777 in 2025 with 350 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 163,010 American babies have been named Pearl. Its peak came in 1918, when 4,622 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Pearl stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Pearl year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 350 | #777 | — | — |
| 2024 | 351 | #804 | — | — |
| 2023 | 351 | #800 | — | — |
| 2022 | 382 | #756 | — | — |
| 2021 | 385 | #742 | — | — |
| 2020 | 351 | #777 | — | — |
| 2019 | 387 | #730 | — | — |
| 2018 | 460 | #645 | — | — |
| 2017 | 455 | #653 | — | — |
| 2016 | 549 | #567 | — | — |
| 2015 | 461 | #624 | — | — |
| 2014 | 454 | #629 | — | — |
| 2013 | 424 | #673 | — | — |
| 2012 | 368 | #756 | — | — |
| 2011 | 335 | #807 | — | — |
| 2010 | 267 | #961 | — | — |
| 2009 | 269 | #985 | — | — |
| 2008 | 259 | #1,017 | — | — |
| 2007 | 269 | #994 | — | — |
| 2006 | 245 | #1,048 | — | — |
| 2005 | 190 | #1,206 | — | — |
| 2004 | 196 | #1,160 | — | — |
| 2003 | 203 | #1,091 | — | — |
| 2002 | 199 | #1,071 | — | — |
| 2001 | 208 | #1,036 | — | — |
| 2000 | 200 | #1,047 | — | — |
| 1995 | 159 | #1,119 | — | — |
| 1990 | 131 | #1,256 | — | — |
| 1985 | 165 | #946 | — | — |
| 1980 | 168 | #901 | 6 | #6,042 |
| 1975 | 148 | #894 | — | — |
| 1970 | 161 | #842 | — | — |
| 1965 | 259 | #601 | 8 | #3,180 |
| 1960 | 372 | #505 | 7 | #3,575 |
| 1955 | 465 | #406 | 27 | #1,499 |
| 1950 | 588 | #320 | 18 | #1,796 |
| 1945 | 654 | #265 | 27 | #1,290 |
| 1940 | 907 | #197 | 29 | #1,271 |
| 1935 | 1,187 | #167 | 53 | #868 |
| 1930 | 2,069 | #121 | 67 | #791 |
| 1925 | 3,213 | #90 | 68 | #807 |
| 1920 | 4,204 | #62 | 91 | #672 |
| 1915 | 3,976 | #56 | 97 | #579 |
| 1910 | 2,177 | #39 | 23 | #614 |
| 1905 | 2,108 | #31 | 29 | #401 |
| 1900 | 2,512 | #24 | 41 | #342 |
| 1895 | 1,958 | #26 | 45 | #267 |
| 1890 | 1,741 | #24 | 48 | #245 |
| 1885 | 1,146 | #26 | 57 | #212 |
| 1880 | 569 | #47 | 62 | #196 |
Famous people named Pearl
- Pearl S. Buck Writer · 1892–1973
- Pearl White Actor · 1889–1938
- Pearl Bailey Actor · 1918–1990
- Pearl Mackie Actor · b. 1987
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pearl mean?
A unisex given name from English.
How popular is the name Pearl in 2025?
Pearl ranked #777 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 350 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Pearl?
163,010 babies have been named Pearl in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Pearl most popular?
Pearl peaked in 1918, when 4,622 newborns received the name.
Is Pearl a boy or girl name?
Pearl is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 98% of babies with the name.
Is the name Pearl rising or falling?
Pearl is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Pearl?
Well-known people named Pearl include Pearl S. Buck (writer), Pearl White (actor), Pearl Bailey (actor).